“Pete, it’s 2019 and as an untraditional student of the age of 60, do you feel it beneficial for me to enter academia again? My last adventure was a loss when I reached my aggregate loan limit three classes away from my B. S. degree in Business!” “Well, where do you want to try again at?” “Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN.” “Why there?” “It is a short story, you see, I started school at University of STOUT in Menomonie, Wisconsin when I had just graduated from high school in 1977. Then to explain further, I have written a short book about what happened at Stout to cause me to transfer to Century College in White Bear Lake to finish a two-year AA degree in Liberal Arts. Then I had two children and decided I needed a better income and got a diploma and credentials for Dental Assistant. I picked Metro State because I could put all of my lifelong learning experiences and credits, which I earned over the years toward a BA degree in individualized study.” “That sounds like a wonderful idea, I feel you should go for it, and I was wondering how I can buy your book? “You know, on-topic, I think I will enroll. Off-topic, my book is not fully written yet. I am taking Creative Writing as a focus area. As soon as I get it written I will let you know if you would like to support me to get it published. Well, I’m off to go on the Internet and enroll at Metro State today and thanks for your vote of confidence. “No problem, Stacey. Please let me know how it’s going in a few days. As your job coach from the Courage Center, I would like to know about these things. Be sure to look into getting your course books and how to pay your tuition!" “I have looked into that. My current job pays tuition aid, and I got a Pell grant for everything that my scholarship didn’t cover. The Pell Grant also took care of my books this term except for one. If I don’t get that one book by the time it’s time to ADD/DROP Day, I will have to drop the class; I will have to wait until next term to try again.” “I feel now that you should not enroll until you are sure you have all your books and finances in order. ““Oh, it will be all right, I know if I go on the website and follow through with setting up my tuition and send in all the documents, which I need to prove my tuition assistance, I’ll make it!” “That is kind of a rash decision Stacy. If you don’t have your book and you have to drop the class and unenroll, you will get labeled as a jaded student by the administration and they won’t want to help you in the future.” “Well Pete, that’s a chance I’m just going to take”” “Well, that’s on your head then. Hey Pete, have Marilyn call me about my job at Starbucks, okay?"

Ring ring, “Stacy, this is Marilyn from the Courage Center. Pete told me you wanted to talk to me about your job at Starbucks “Yes, that is right, my job at Starbucks is full-time and very demanding. I am trying to start college, and I could use someone to talk to my manager there to explain that I need help to understand the tuition aid. “No problem, Stac.” “Hey, Marylyn, could you tell Pete I had to unenroll from school, but I’m going to try next term? We had a winter snowstorm, and I couldn’t make it in to pick up my book on time. “

Email next day, “Stacey, I appreciate you wanting to try next term for your academics, but it hardly seems worth it now as your administration will probably be labeling you as a jaded student because you didn’t make it this time when you tried so rashly“ “So Pete, how I see it is you’re from the Courage Center, so you can help me to prove my disability so I can get academics going in the future.” ” Unfortunately, your rash decision to try before getting proof of your disability may cost you success, but OK I will get you a letter about your disability and you can call your administration to ask where to send it. “Pete, I have already contacted the disability services at Metro, and here is their email address, [email protected]. Could you just send the form to them and then we can get underway for me to gain services to help me with college.” “I can’t send it for you, but I can ask Drew from academic services at Vocational Rehab to contact you about it if you would like?” Sure, that would be great! thanks, Pete!” “I’ll give Drew your email and I hope you have good luck with your future. Please let me know if you ever get your book published.” “Will do, Pete, thanks, and I’ll be waiting to hear from Drew!”

Email from Drew

“I got a request from Pete at Courage Center to contact you about your desire to prove your disability at your college of choice. I have attached the medical form for your Dr. to fill out in order for you to prove your disability to rehab services at your college.” “Oh, my medical information is already in your system, and you should have no trouble getting me the letter my Dr. already wrote for me to get services about my temporary brain injury, Drew.” Oh, you're right, Stacey! I see it here now. What email address do I send it to?” “Talk about a run-around. It is nothing personal, but this is why I was like a jaded student and tried to do school on my own without you. I don’t like all the red tape.” “That’s understandable Stacey, but what is the email, please?” [email protected] “Thank you, Stacey, I will send an application for the correct assistance you will need for your brain injury to [email protected].” “They will help you not to make any more rash decisions toward your BA in Individualized Degree with focus on Business and Creative Writing.” “Gee Drew, how did you know I was going for that degree?” Once you applied for tuition aid from Starbucks, all that info transferred into our database. Good luck with your degree!” “Thank you very much,

Drew!!!!”